Wednesday, December 31, 2014

As the year comes to an end, I thought I would share the larger projects I completed in 2014. I also made cards, and did some online class work, but I haven't included them here. You can click on any link to take you to the relevant post. December Daily project - completed January 2nd

And not quite finished but they have been major projects that are very close to done :Stitched paper daily journal - only these 2 pages to complete and I'll be binding all the loose pages into their cover

Monday, December 29, 2014

I'm finishing off a couple of projects this week, but with 2015 just around the corner, it's time to share what I'm going to focus on creatively in the new year. The main thing I want to make in 2015 is quilts - lots of quilts.I am starting the year right with our national Quilt Symposium in January 2015 here in Palmerston North. This is the main venue :

I'm also taking 2 post-symposium day classes through our club with Karen Stone - love her work and a good way to start the year with fabric and colour design ideas. In 2012 I tried Creating a Book a Month - didn't quite make it but I did make 6 which is more than I would have done without that goal. Wondering if I should try that goal for quilts in 2015 - made 2 this year. Here are the links in case you are new to my blog : Christmas tree quilt and Simply Delicious quilt. Next is Art Journaling - which I could never give up :-)I have committed to Life Book 2015 which starts on January 1st - because it is such good value {NZ$152 which spread over the year = $2.92 per week! and there's a 3-part payment plan if needed as well} - because I want to get out of my comfort zone and try some different ways of making art (eg. faces) - because I've never tried it before and want to find out about it for myself - because the teachers are amazing...

Tam promises an inspired, creative and nourishing year - get in touch with your creative inner fire! Go HERE for the full schedule of lesson dates, teachers and weekly offerings. And she's posted a pic of her first lesson....I just hope I'll be able to create something half as beautiful

And just for fun...I was going to resist doing Creative Jumpstart in January 2015, but I just couldn't!

At only US$25 you get 25 videos from 23 artists, and access to all content until November 2015. It was the list of artists participating this time around that sold me (also $5 off for returning Jumpstarters)The online classes I have enrolled in with Mary Ann Moss over the last few years will expire for me in 2016 so I should devote some time to them.

Sunday, December 28, 2014

I'll be posting tomorrow about the online classes and creative focuses I'm having in 2015, but thought I would share these with you first.A blog reader shared a class with me to add to my list of cheap and free online classes that you can always access over in my sidebar. Only problem is - registration closes 31 December. Part of the info says it's for : People who can't paint or draw and don't know what art journaling is - People who enjoyed art classes at school - Experienced artists and crafty types. Read more HERE

Tammy at Daisy Yellow is launching a new series of journaling prompts that will challenge you with sparks, ideas & quotes. The challenge will help you strengthen both your artmaking and your writing practice. Start any time - the prompts begin Dec 31st. More HERE.

I am really happy for you to contact me with info about free online art classes that I have missed....Recent updates to the list include 2015 information and links to Strathmore, Journal 52, Lisa Sonora Beam's new 30 day project, and Documented Life Project 2015. So many choices!

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Having a wonderful week - Christmas in New Zealand is summer and the weather is certainly gorgeously sunny and hot this week. We've had Christmas day with family, and Boxing day relaxing at home and I caught up on my remaining Christmas pages in my daily journal :

To capture memories, pages can be as simple as stitched photos and a bit of tape...this next page is card cut from a gifted calendar envelope - and doesn't even have stitch!

Boxing Day - summer sunshine and relaxing

The blue label is another Mary Ann Moss one

Only 5 days left of the year so I'll be finishing just a few more pages and then binding them together before I start new ventures in 2015. In that first photo you can see the stack of pages for this journal...Hope you find some inspiration here.See all the posts about this journal HERE and in my Flickr Set HERE.